My addiction to the Dodgers and baseball. I love Our Lady of Chavez Ravine (OLOCR) Dodger Stadium. If you come to Dodger Stadium, I'd love to show you around.SABR & Baseball Reliquary member

Results tagged ‘ FanFest ’

The first thing I noticed when I got to Dodger Stadium were the incredible long lines. I said “If that is the line I need to get in I am leaving” but I was told there was another line to get into the Fanfest. That line was much smaller. I got in line and started talking to the fans around me when one told me that if you are a season ticket holder you can walk right in, “Ahhh”, I thought “much better” Still the lines inside to get autograph were already long so I walked around chit chatting with friends

Afterwards I looked for the food trucks. I ordered a
a pupusa stuffed with chicken, cheese and spinach that was very good. I washed that down with a mango drink with boba (tapioca balls).

I had not heard from Lorena and I could not find Rosie so I was contemplating leaving to SABR day at the La Habra library. I was actually mapping how to get there when I heard from Lorena. I was so glad to see her! I had not seen her since our last game where Lorena, Rosie and I sat in the dugout seats for the last game at Dodger Stadium. Afterwards Amanda showed up then I ran into Char who is also a member of the Baseball Reliquary. She is a big fan of Wes Parker so I turned around and said “look at this”

Char was telling me about the baseball exhibition at the end so we all walked there. I had seen Gary Cypres exhibition at the Folk Art museum twice before so I left them there to go see and listen to Vin Scully.

They caught up with me and we listened to Matt Kemp. I told them that I was going back to the baseball exhibition. I started taking some pictures when I saw Dodgers Historian Mark Langill. He introduced to the two men he was talking to, Randy Tivens of Let’s talk Dodgers and Gary Cypres, owner Sports Museum of Los Angeles.

Randy Tivens, Mark Langill and Gary Cypres.

These three gentlemen made the day more enjoyable talking baseball and a little football was mixed in there too. It was such a long chat that Mark was afraid he was going to faint. I offered Mark one of the rice crispies they had at the Fanfest with the JCPenney logo made of sugar with sprinkles. He was eating that when Jorge Martin stopped to say Hi. I told Jorge “I almost did not recognize Jorge, you look like a regular fan. Mark said “he is!”🙂

Jorge Martin, Emma and Mark Langilll. pic by Randy.

From there Mark went to get something to eat and Randy and I went to have our first Cool-A-Coo of 2013!

From Gary Cypres collection:

1910 Chicago Cubs field sweater

1920’s New York Yankees field sweater

1920’s St Luis outer jacket

Movie 42 at Dodger Stadium

Randy, Mark, Gary and I were talking about the upcoming movie 42, Jackie Robinson, Harrison Ford and Branch Rickey. I told Mark “they should show the movie at Dodger Stadium” to which he responded “We are” :-) Randy said “there you go Emma, exclusive!. haha.

I arrived at the first Dodger FanFest at noon. There were a lot of people there waiting for the gates to open. The first thing I did was have my baseball card made. This is my third baseball card but this one has the Dodger schedule in the back. The next thing I did was the Dodger flip book. Basically you put a glove on and pose for pictures pitching, catching while the camera rolls and they make that into a tiny book.

It was already hot so when I saw sosmeone with a paper fan with half of Matt Kemp’s face, I asked where they got it. It is KCAL CBS sponsored with their broadcast schedule in the back. They gave you three rubber baseballs and if you made it thru the big hole you got the fan. If you made it thru the smaller hole you got Dodger tickets. I wanted the fan but I only came close. Lucky for me my brother Victor was with me. He aimed for the big hole and got me my fan! How do I look?

When Mattingly was on stage, I went to the mike and asked him what Lilly had done to get tossed in Chicago. Also I said on the Mike while wearing my Vote for AJ Ellis button (I took the image from MikeSciosciatragicillness blog and glued it to one of my buttons. Mattingly said “yes, I am voting for AJ.

Here is Matt Kemp on stage being interviewed and taking questions.

The longest Dodger infield was missing the iron man Steve Garvey. He had an emergency so only Russell, Cey and Lopes were there. I thanked them for 1981 which was my first year as a season ticket holder and told Lopes that back in 1981 I had given Bobby Welch a greeting card to make him feel better because he was not doing well. He said something like “you don’t know how much we appreciate that when we are not doing well..” That year in December 1981 I received a postcard from Lopes thanking me for my support. I still have it.

Vin Scully also made it appearance! He talked and we listened only with the “WE Love you Vin!” “No, you are Great!”

Next it was Pepe Yniguez, Fernando Valenzuela & Jaime Jarrin. Pepe funny as usual and even Fernando. Jaime great as always.

Earlier I had gone to the section where the Dodgers had the Tommy Lasorda wine tasting. This section was only for season ticket holders. Later on Tommy was going to walk around talking to fans there posing for picures but I had a conflict since it was the same time Vin Scully was going to be on stage. Anyway, after Pepe, Fernando and Jaime appearace on stage, Tommy followed. He was funny, inspirational and full of Dodger Blue energy. He got the crowd going. I asked him “what kind of food I should have with two bottles of his wine I have at home. He said “Save it!” “And when the Dodgers win the World Series I will drink those bottles of wine with you!” 🙂 Tommy: I got plenty of witnesses!

I left in time to watch some batting practice. Clayton Kershaw pitched a great game. He blanked out the Cardinals 6-0,

Saturday is the first Dodger FanFest at Dodger Stadium. Originally I was scheduled to go to the Baseball Reliquary Bill VeeckFest but I am going to the Dodger Fanfest and I will have someone tell me all about the Veeckfest and have them buy me the biography “Bill Veeck: Baseball Greatest Maverick” by Paul Dickson. The program include a panel discussion on the legacy of Bill Veeck, film screening & book signing.

Interleague starts today but not for the Dodgers. The St Louis Cardinals are in town. The Angels pay a visit to the Padres. Dodgers don’t start interleague until June 8th when they go to Seattle. I will be there with my friend Lorena and another friend that will join us is Rosie. We are so looking forward to that trip. Safeco Field will be a new stadium for the three of us. At the SABR conference in Long Beach, I met a Mariner fan. I saw her again at the SABR Fall League conference in Arizona. I am going to see if I can contact her.

Entry to the event is free with your ticket to the evening’s contest against the Cardinals. There will also be a wine tasting of Tommy Lasorda’s wine for season ticket holders with their VIP card.

In the meantime is Fireworks Night to the 80’s music. Dodgers have been paying tribute to decades with the Fireworks and also having a highlight video from that decade. 80’s is a good one with two World Series & Fernandomania. I got my 1981 t-shirt on and my satin Dodger jacket.

My friends Lorena, Rosie, Amanda and I are waking up pretty early on Saturday to head to the Dodgers White Sox Spring Training Fanfest March 3rd. Hmm, let’s see…gates open at 8;30, a six hour drive. Man! that is pretty early and this is a turnaround trip.

Activities & Promotions:
Concourse Activities include the Free Agent Sports Marketing Sports Card and Memorabilia Show, speed pitch, fan photos, kids’ inflatables, a Phoenix Coyotes booth featuring Howler, a Glendale fire truck, and a Cactus League book signing with Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry.
Promotional items include bobbleheads (first 250 children 12 and under), Coyotes ticket drawing for the March 3rd game at neighboring Jobing.com Arena, spring training raffles, and other sponsored giveaways.
Arizona Sports 620 Radio will broadcast from the stadium during the event.
Concession stands and the Clubhouse Store will be open.
The ticket office will be open from 8:30am-4pm for fans to purchase game tickets.

Here is a picture from last March at Camelback Ranch. Andre Ethier, Margie, Lorena and I.

Had a great time at the Baseball Reliquary event last Saturday. I purchased the book “Strrr-ike!! Emmett Ashford, Major League Umpire” by Adrienne Cherie Ashford, daughter of Emmett. I checked out two books from the library, one on the Negro League and the other is “A Strong Right Arm” the story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson.”

I also won another book. “Bat Boy: My True Life Adventures Coming of Age with the NewYork Yankees by Matthew McGough. Matthew was in the audience so he signed my book. He was there with his two beautiful young kids. Even though I have the book I will attend the Baseball Reliquary when he will be speaking about his book and having a book signing. My friend Abby who is a huge Yankee fan, said is a fun read. Thank you Abby for the two Dodger books you have sent me! Let me know if there is anything I can send your way.

I plan on getting the Gaylord Perry book too. So many books to read, so little time. I plan on reading on my way to Camelback Ranch.

This morning as I was hurrying to take my train from Union Station, a lady was coming the opposite side and asked me “where is the train to San Diego?” I pointed her in the right direction but Ughhh! I wanted to hop on that train! I thought about it briefly “I can go the way I am right now..No, I need to go to work…I’ll get updates from there😦.

I hope Padilla gets better support from the offense. Our offense has been so anemic that they need one of these.

Dodgers acquired Podsednik for Class A RHP Elisaul Pimentel and Catcher Lucas May. Not happy that Oswald went to the Phillies. Dodgers have not even faced the Phillies yet. The Wild Card just got a little harder and wilder. Will the Dodgers be buyers or sellers by the Trade deadline?

When I was at the FanFest, we got in line to get our baseball cards. They had different jerseys you could put on to pose for the picture. Brother Vic posed with a Rays jersey. He is a Rays fan in addition to being a Dodger fan. We teased him afterwards that we had traded him to Tampa for Evan Longoria.

I had taken my picture with a Dodger uni and as a hitter

but when I saw my brother as a pitcher, I wanted one too so I put on the NL uni

You know the first youtube video I recorded of Kenley Jansen that I put in my prior post? Well, last night I noticed that it has over 5,000 views! Unbelievable!

Let’s go Padilla!

Let’s go Dodgers!

Oh, I just got an email from Matt from http://pittpeas.mlblog.com that I am being featured in the MLB blog front page! Wow! Thank you Matt for alerting me! And thank you MLBlogs!!

Thank you National League players for coming thru and giving the Senior Circuit bragging right!

I could have used a real vacation day today of just resting after the last five hectic days but I had a great time,

Friday 7/9: Volunteer from noon to 5 p.m. Head to Dodger Stadium for game at 7:10 p.m.

Saturday 7/10: Photo Day at Dodger Stadium at 11:a.m. Game at 1:10 p.m. Steve Garvey Charity game at Pepperdine in Malibu at 5:30 p.m. (pictures another time).

Sunday 7/11: volunteer from 8:a.m. to 1 p.m. Head to Dodger Stadium for game at 5:10 p.m.

Monday 7/12: Leave house at 8:30 a.m. to attend FanFest as a FAN before shift. Realized when I got there that I forgot my camera. Make the one hour trip (one way) home to get camera. Got back at 11:30, time to report to work to start noon to 5:p.m. shift. Check out FanFest with friends and family AFTER 5 p.m.

Tuesday 7/13. Checkout FanFest (lots to see) then lineup outside of convention to wait for Player parade. After parade, realized I lost my car keys. Checked with security, information, front desk and no sign of keys. My friend Lorena came to pick me up to head to the game after she finished watching the parade from her end at Disneyland. Brother Vic timed it well to bring me the the extra key I had left at home.

Wednesday 7/14. Exhausted but back at work.

Here are some pictures:

In a prior post, I had mentioned that Red Sox Mickey was on the DL. He was brought back to FanFest after his trip to the mickey hospital. Note how Red Sox Mickey has his left arm all bandaged and he has a hot water bottle on top. Poor mickey.

Here is the news flash from MLB informing everyone that Red Sox Mickey was starting his rehab assignment at the FanFest on Friday and possibly would be ready for the All-Star game.

Unfortunately Kansas City Royals Mickey could not make it on time.

There was a wax figure of Tommy Lasorda. Have you ever seen him this skinny?

Outside of the convention center was the Hilton and the Marriott hotel. The Hilton has the American League Mickey

The Marriott has the The National League Mickey!

After our final volunteering assignment we were given an All-Star baseball. After three days I was really tired but I would do it again. I met lots of fans, little ones and big ones and many other baseball fans that volunteered.

There was a sheet to signup for the upcoming NBA All-Star FanFest in Los Angeles next year and we were told that starting in February we could sign up to volunteer for next year’s MLB All-Star FanFest in Arizona.

Linda and I are designated hitters so we waited where they would take us.

Our group was given the assignment to stuff the welcome bags in the back and to be a greeter handing out the bags. I was going to greet but when I went to the back room, I noticed they needed help stuffing so there I sat stuffing and stuffing and stuffing..

I had fun with the ladies but I had enough of stuffing.

I took a little break and stopped by to see Rollie Fingers

I put back my volunteer shirt when I spotted this cutout of Andre Ethier!

Then I was back to stufing bags.

At 5, I headed back on the 5 freeway to Blue Heaven on Earth! I got there 30 minutes before game time. The Dodgers rewarded me with a win. It should not have been that close but the score was Dodgers 9, Cubs 7.

Checkout Deuce! The famous “bailarin” little dancer at Dodger Stadium. Deuce is a riot! Here he is doing his dance routine. Everyone knows deuce, including the players.

Busy day today with photo day, game and then a softball charity game that I am thinking of attending at Pepperdine. It is being hosted by Steve Garvey. Lots of players and celebrities will be there.

Hey Ernie Banks was at Dodger Stadium yesterday! I missed taking a picture of him. Maybe he will be back today!

I did not want to blog after the Dodgers lost that heartbreaker in the 9th to the Yankees. We all left the stadium so demoralized

Hey Torre: Did you fall asleep in the 9th?

But we won last night against the hated ones on my birthday!! YEAH!!

Young John Ely goes tonight against Cain. Let’s see what this game brings us. Truebluewill was reminding me of the Dodgers record against the NL West! 19-5! We swept the Padres earlier in the year so yeah let’s play the NL West!

MLB All-Star FanFest Special courtesy of Pepsi!

I went to the Vons and noticed this special last Sunday. Checkout the voucher!

If you spend $20 in qualifying Pepsi products, you can earn two free tickets to the MLB All-Star FanFest. The tickets cost $30 each so this is a pretty good deal. Thanks Pepsi!

I don’t care for Pepsi, but I bought products made by Pepsi like Gatorade and Aquafina water. If they don’t call me to volunteer for the Fan-Fest, then I already have a voucher for tickets.

Woohoo!! I just got the email that says “Congratulations!’ You have been accepted to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest Volunteer Team!

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